Vinicius Queiroz cut from UFC after testing positive for steroid
Vinicius Queiroz’s Ultimate Fighting Championships career didn’t last too long.
The website mmajunkie.com broke the news Tuesday that Queiroz was released by the UFC following a positive test for the banned substance Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. The Brazilian heavyweight mixed martial
artist fought just one fight at UFC 120 in London, England on 16 October, a loss to English heavyweight Rob Broughton via third round rear naked choke.
Marc Ratner, the UFC head of regulatory affairs, confirmed to mmajunkie.com that Queiroz had been released. It was revealed also that the UFC had given a bonus to Queiroz after the fight, as it occasionally
does when fighters are seen to put on good performances. This bonus has since been revoked by the UFC following the positive test.
Queiroz was just 5-1 when he got his UFC shot, off the strength of four first round knock-out victories in a row. Usually UFC newcomers get at least two losses before they are cut, but with Queiroz’s falling
out of favour, the UFC evidently didn’t think twice before cutting him.
The UFC has long earned credit from observers for their drug-testing policy. Because in many cases mixed martial arts events aren’t regulated by athletic commissions outside of North America, the UFC conducts
its own steroid and drug testing programs voluntarily when they travel outside the continent. This isn’t the first time one of their fighters has been caught by such a test. Notably Chris Leben, who was in the main event of UFC 89, also in England, was similarly
caught for using a banned substance.
But the UFC’s policy towards fighters isn’t always zero tolerance and depends on the fighter’s worth to the company. Leben, and former title contenders Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen, and former champions
Sean Sherk and Tim Sylvia all tested positive without suffering much in the way of repercussions.
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